Nut Gatherer and Method of Constructing Same

ABSTRACT

A nut gatherer includes a hollow drum formed by a plurality of wires. Each of the wires has a bowed middle segment and two end portions. The end portions are preferably hooked. A pair of hubs secures the hooked ends of the wires to form the drum there between. A handle is rotatably mounted to the hubs and a handle extension is removably coupled with the handle. In use, the handle or handle extension is used to rotate the drum into contact with an object, such as a nut, where the object then forces the wires to separate and permit the object to move from outside the drum to inside said drum. Once contact between the object and the wires is terminated, the wires return to their original position thereby trapping the object within the drum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/482,012, filed on May 3, 2011, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gardening and yard maintenance require a variety of tools. Many of thesetools are designed to efficiently remove debris or yard waste. Rakes andbrooms are typically used to maneuver yard waste such as leaves, grassclippings and branches into piles for removal. Some items, such as nutsand pine cones, are not easily corralled using rakes or brooms becausethey pass through the tines of the tool, are too bulky to be swept orroll away. Yet these items are precisely the sort of yard debris thatmost gardeners prefer to clear away as they do not decompose quickly,can cause damage to lawn mowers and create a slipping hazard for peopledesiring to use the space for recreation or leisure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a gardening tool for gathering nutsand other debris, including but not limited to pecans, acorns, walnuts,butternuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts, filberts, gum balls, seeds, fruit,small balls, pine cones, seed heads, shotgun shells and reusablepaintballs. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes an oblongwire capsule with a hub positioned at either end. Each hub includes ahubcap coupled with a hub disc. The hubcap has a flat bottom surfacethat mates with the hub disc when the two components are coupledtogether. When assembled, each end of the wires that make up the wirecapsule is trapped between the bottom surface of one of the hubcaps andone of the hub discs. A handle is rotatably mounted to the hubs suchthat the wire capsule can freely spin between the handle ends. A handleextension is preferably attached to the handle, which allows a user toroll the wire capsule along the ground or other surface to be clearedfrom a standing position. As the wire capsule contacts items, such asnuts and other debris, the wires flex to permit the items to enter theinterior of the capsule where they are trapped when the wires return totheir original position.

Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages andnovel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learnedfrom the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of theinvention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalitiesand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the nutgatherer.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a wire used in the construction of the nutgatherer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a hub used in the construction of the nutgatherer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hub shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a segment of a hub disc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a nut gatherer in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown and generally designated byreference number 10. Nut gatherer 10 includes a convex wire drum 12, twohubs 14, a handle 16 and a handle extension 18. The drum is formed of aplurality of flexible wires 20. As described in further detail below,wires 20 are secured at either end by hubs 14 to form drum 12. Handle 16is rotatably mounted to hubs 14 such that drum 12 spins freely in eitherdirection between the ends of handle 16. Handle 16 is also configured tobe removably attached to handle extension 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, each wire 20 has a bowed middle segment 22 and twohooked ends 24. Bowed middle segment 22 is shaped such that it has aconvex exterior surface and a concave interior surface. Each hooked end24 is preferably L-shaped. A first leg 24 a extends down from the end ofbowed middle segment 22 and a second leg 24 b extends from the distalend of first leg 24 a in an inward direction under a portion of bowedmiddle segment 22. In a preferred embodiment, approximately 72 wires ofsimilar shape are used to form drum 12. The wire is made of a metalmaterial that is sufficiently rigid to hold the basic shape describedabove but sufficiently flexible and resilient that it will flex awayfrom a piece of debris during contact and return to its originalposition when the contact with the debris is terminated.

With reference to FIG. 3, an exploded view of a hub is shown. Each hubcomprises a hubcap 26, a hub disc 28, a bolt 30 and a nut 32. Hubcap 26is hollow and approximately bell-shaped, having a wide, round, open endand a narrow, round, open end. A flat plate 34 extends across the wideend of hubcap 26. Plate 34 defines a center aperture having the samecenter axis as the narrow round open end of hubcap 26. Hub disc 28 isround and has approximately the same diameter as plate 34. Hub disc 28also defines a center aperture that shares the common center axisdescribed above with reference to plate 34 and hubcap 26.

As shown in FIG. 4, one surface of hub disc 28 defines a plurality ofgrooves 36 and a plurality of cavities 38. Each of grooves 36 is alignedwith one of cavities 38. Cavities 38 are arranged in a circle on hubdisc 28. Grooves 36 radiate out from cavities 38 to the perimeter of hubdisc 28. Each groove and cavity pair is shaped to retain a hooked end 24of wire 20. The depth of each groove 36 is slightly less than thediameter of first leg 24 a, such that when second leg 24 b is fullyinserted in cavity 38, a portion of first leg 24 a rests within groove36 and a portion of first leg 24 a remains above the surface of hub disc28. Hub disc 28 is preferably made of a material that is sufficientlyrigid to hold wires 20 in place but sufficiently flexible such that itwill permit slight lateral movement of the wire within the groove duringuse.

Returning to FIG. 3, bolt 30 has a hollow threaded stem 40 and a head42. Threaded stem 40 is shaped for insertion into the center aperturedefined by hub disc 28 and plate 34. Head 42 is shaped to retain bolt 30on one side of hub disc 28. The interior surface of nut 32 iscounter-threaded to threaded stem 40 such that bolt 30 and nut 32cooperatively work together to couple hub disc 28 with hubcap 26 whenhub 14 is assembled. As described in further detail below, threaded stem40 is shaped to receive an end of handle 16.

With reference to FIG. 5, hub 14 of nut gatherer 10 and a portion ofwires 20 are shown in an assembled state. Each end of wire 20 issandwiched between hub disc 28 and flat plate 34. To make the nutgatherer of the present invention, multiple pieces of wire 20 are cut toapproximately the same length and bent such that they each have a bowedmiddle segment 22 and two hooked end portions 24. Each wire 20 is thenmounted onto a hub disc 28 at either end. Hub discs 28 are loaded withwires 20 by inserting the end of second leg 24 b into one of cavities38. Once second leg 24 b is inserted, a portion of first leg 24 a restswithin corresponding groove 36.

After hub disc 28 is fully loaded with wires 20, i.e., all of cavities38 have been filled with wires 20, flat plate 34 of hubcap 26 is securedto the surface of hub disc 28 where wires 20 have been inserted usingbolt 30 and nut 32. Threaded stem 40 of bolt 30 is inserted through thecenter aperture of hub disc 28 and plate 34 and nut 32 is threaded ontothe stem such that nut 32 is housed within hubcap 26. Coupling hub disc28 and hubcap 26 in this manner retains each of wires 20 in a cavity 38and groove 36. Wires 20 are thus evenly spaced around the perimeter ofhub 14 and their bowed middle segments 22 collectively form drum 12.Friction between first leg 24 a of hooked end 24 and plate 34 of hubcap26 prevents hub disc 28 from rotating relative to hubcap 26. Friction,in conjunction with grooves 36, also prevents wires 20 from collapsingonto one another during use. As shown in FIG. 1, handle 16 is coupledwith hubs 14 by inserting one end of the handle into the exposed hollowthreaded stem 40 of bolt 30. Preferably, a handle extension 18 isremovably attached to handle 16.

In operation, handle extension 18 is used to push and pull nut gatherer10 along a surface to collect debris. As nut gatherer 10 is pushed orpulled along a surface with slight downward pressure applied by theuser, drum 12 rotates. When a pair of wires 20 is pressed onto a pieceof debris, such as a nut, acorn, or other object, the debris forceswires 20 to temporarily separate and permit the debris to enter theinterior of drum 12. Once the debris has entered the interior of drum12, wires 20 return to their original position such that they will notpermit the debris to pass back out of the drum. Nut gatherer 10 can beoperated in a forward or backward motion, as drum 12 freely spins ineither direction between the ends of handle 16.

In alternative embodiments, more or less wires may be used to form drum12. The number of wires may depend on the size of the target debris; ifthe target debris is small (such as an acorn), then more wires should beused so that the wires are spaced closer together, and if the targetdebris is larger (such as a walnut), then less wires are needed as thespacing between them can be greater. The bowed middle segment 22 ofwires 20 may also be bent to a greater or lesser degree. The more thewires are bent the more disc-shaped drum 12 becomes, which means lesssurface area is in contact with the ground at any one time. The less thewires are bent, the more oblong-shaped drum 12 becomes, which means moresurface area is in contact with the ground at any one time. Althoughmetal wires are described with reference to the preferred embodiment,plastic material that is sufficiently rigid yet flexible and resilientmay also be used.

In another alternative embodiment, the ends of the wires have aninverted L-shaped end portion, where the second leg extends from thedistal end of the first leg and outward and away from the bowed middlesegment of the wire. In this embodiment, the end of each wire is in astair-step configuration where the first leg is the riser between thesecond leg and the middle segment. To accommodate wires having thestair-step configuration, the plate of the hubcap defines the cavitiesand grooves described above, instead of the hub disc, and the hub dischas a flat surface for contacting the surface of the hubcap, i.e., theplate, where the wires are inserted. In the assembled state, the secondleg is inserted into a cavity and the corresponding groove retains aportion of the first leg in a similar fashion to that described abovewith reference to the preferred embodiment. The wires are loaded intoeach of the hubcaps until all the cavities and grooves are full. The hubdisc is then coupled to the loaded hubcap using the nut and bolt suchthat the wires are trapped between the hubcap and hub disc in theirrespective grooves and cavities.

In yet another embodiment, the ends of the wires include only a singlestraight leg extending downward from the bowed middle portion. In thisembodiment, no cavities are provided in either the hub disc or the plateof the hub cap. The straight leg is simply trapped between the hub discand hub cap when the two components are coupled together. Preferably,grooves are provided in either the hub disc or the bottom plate of thehub cap such that the straight leg of each wire end partially restswithin the groove and the wires are prevented from collapsing onto oneanother during use. Alternatively, no grooves (or cavities) are providedand the straight wire end portions are held in place between the hubcapand hub disc by frictional forces.

In a further alternative embodiment, no pre-made grooves are provided.In this embodiment, the component defining the cavities (either the hubdisc as described with reference to the preferred embodiment or theplate of the hub cap as described above with reference to an alternativeembodiment having wire ends in a stair-step configuration) is made of amaterial that is sufficiently pliable, such as rubber, to trap the wiresin the proper location when the hub is fully assembled. The wires arepressed into the hub disc or plate to such an extent that they areprevented from collapsing onto one another during use.

While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, variousmodifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited tothe specific forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein,except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.For example, the end portions of the wires may be curved to form thehooked ends instead of bent at angles and any method known in the artfor coupling the hub disc to the hubcap may be used instead of a nut anda bolt, such as a screw or bolt and a threaded socket.

1. A nut gatherer for collecting debris, comprising: a hollow drumformed of a plurality of wires, each of said wires having a bowed middlesegment and two end portions; a pair of hubs, each of said hubsconfigured to receive one of said end portions of each of said wires; ahandle rotatably mounted to said pair of hubs; and wherein when saiddrum rotates into contact with an object, the object forces said wiresto separate and permit the object to move from outside said drum toinside said drum where it is trapped.
 2. The nut gatherer of claim 1,wherein each of said hubs comprises a hub disc coupled with a hubcap,whereby said end portions of said wires are trapped between said hubdisc and said hubcap.
 3. The nut gatherer of claim 2, wherein saidhubcap is substantially bell-shaped.
 4. The nut gatherer of claim 2,wherein said hubcap includes a bottom plate.
 5. The nut gatherer ofclaim 2, further comprising a bolt for coupling said hub disc with saidhubcap.
 6. The nut gatherer of claim 5, wherein said bolt includes ahollow end for receiving said handle.
 7. The nut gatherer of claim 2,wherein said hub disc defines a plurality of cavities configured toreceive said wire end portions, and wherein said hub disc defines aplurality of grooves aligned with said cavities such that when one ofsaid wire end portions is received into one of said cavities, a portionof said wire end portion is received into one of said grooves.
 8. Amethod of making a nut gatherer for collecting debris, comprising:providing a plurality of wires; bending said wires to form a bowedmiddle portion and two end portions; providing a pair of hubs comprisinga pair of hub discs and a pair of hubcaps; coupling each of said hubdiscs with one of said hubcaps such that said wire end portions aretrapped between said hubcaps and said hub discs, whereby a wire drum isformed between said hubcaps.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising providing a handle and rotatably mounting said handle to saidhubs, wherein said wire drum rotates along a surface in response todirectional force applied to said handle.
 10. A method of making a nutgatherer for collecting debris, comprising: providing a plurality ofwires; bending said wires to form a bowed middle portion and two endportions; providing a pair of hub discs defining a plurality of grooves;loading each of said hub discs with said plurality of wires such that aportion of each of said end portions rests within one of said grooves;providing a pair of hubcaps; and coupling each of said hubcaps with oneof said hub discs loaded with said wires, whereby a wire drum is formedbetween said hubcaps.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprisingbending said end portions such that each of said end portion comprises afirst leg and a second leg.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein each ofsaid hub discs further comprises a plurality of cavities aligned withsaid grooves and wherein loading each of said hub discs furthercomprises inserting said second leg into one of said cavities until aportion of said first leg rests within one of said grooves.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising providing a handle and mountingsaid handle to said hubcaps, wherein said wire drum rotates along asurface in response to directional force applied to said handle.